John A. Vickers

Officer John Vickers and Officer Arthur Hennesay were shot and killed when they were ambushed as they answered a complaint of a stuck car horn in a motel parking lot.

As Officer Vickers was looking for the owner he was shot three times. Officer Hennesay arrived of the scene and was shot through his windshield. The next officer, arriving on the scene, arrested one suspect, a 22-year-old man, as two others ran from the scene. The other two suspects, a 24-year-old man and his 17-year-old wife, were captured at a nearby motel.

Three hours later the parents, of the first suspect arrested, were found shot to death at a motel they managed in San Diego. The car with the stuck horn belonged to them. All three suspects lived at the motel with them. All three were charged with four counts of murder. The two male suspects were convicted of four counts of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.

Officer Vickers had served with the El Centro Police Department for two years. He is survived by his wife, son, and daughter.

Bio

Age30

Tour2 years

Badge321

Incident Details

CauseGunfire

WeaponRifle; .30 caliber

OffenderSentenced to life

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Most Recent Reflection

I will remember that night for as long as I live. I worked at the Denny's and knew both officers. More than that, my husband, at the time, is the one who made that initial arrest. I will never forget the look on his face when he came home and took me to a fellow CHP officer's home because the shooting was so close to our home and there were still suspects on the loose. The days that followed are a blur. The feelings are not.